Mine cage safety device



Feb. 19, 1952 Q E; GAGNON 2,586,217

I MINE CAGE SAFETY DEVICE Filed May 20, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l 25 l2 4| 0 Q 43 u le |7 l? 2e) |2\4\2 4|- -14 29 2g Y I ggad 2e 0| [27 19 /8 16 2o 1 o Y L9' o V 2757 e e F.- ls 7 ao/# Inventor ttorney;

Feb. 19, 1952 G. E. GAGNOVN MINE CAGE SAFETY DEVICE Filed May 20, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 4| n Ala mq1 @a 43d Inventor GEOR E. ON l M Attorney.

Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT ors 2,586,217 IC E MINE CAGE SAFETY DEVICE George E. Gagnon, Matachewan, Ontario, Canada Application May 20, 1949, Serial No. 94,463

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a mine cage safety device and appertains particularly to an automatic braking mechanism usable with a mine or elevator cage, skip or comparable equipment.

An object of the invention is to provide a safety device, operable in an emergency as in the event of a failure in the hoist cable that will decelerate and arrest the descent of a mine cage or elevator` Another object of the invention is to provide a safety device of this kind that is rapid, sure and reliable in operation and positive and powerful enough in structure to overcome such incidental accident hazards as cable lag, snarling, or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mine cage safety device of novel and improved design wherein the cage compartment per se is separate from and vertically slidable with respect to an outer guide rail engaging frame and the braking mechanism is operable on the relative vertical movement of said cage and frame.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an automatic safety device of the nature and for the purposes described that is characterized by structural simplicity, durability and eiciency is easily installed, operated and serviced and being capable of manufacture at relatively reasonable cost is thereby rendered commercially desirable.

To the accomplishment of these and related objects as shall become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

The invention will be best understood and can be more clearly described when reference is had to the drawings forming a part of this disclosure wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved cage construction, showing the relative position of the man-cage or compartment with respect to the outer guide rail engaging frame as when the weight is carried by the hoisting cable;

Figure 2 is a similar side elevation showing the man-cage or compartment in the position it assumes relative to the outer frame when the hoist cable breaks or slackens;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section through the cage, as on line 3-3 of Figure l in the direction indicated by the arrows, with portions of the mechanism removed; and

Figure 4 is a composite elevation, at right angles to Figures 1 and 2, showing the different positions of the man-cage as seen in Figures l and 2 in solid and dotted outline respectively.

The man-cage or elevator compartment I consists of opposite side walll plates 2, a ceiling plate 3 and a floor 4. A pair of laterally spaced, vertically extending angles'5 run up the outside of each wall, facing outwardly and spaced a greater distance than the width of the shaft guide rail. A similar pair of spaced angles 6 run across the -top of the ceiling plate 3 forming a channel or pocket for the accommodation of an upwardly bowed leaf spring l. A pair of vertically slotted draw bars 8 rise one from each angle 6 at the centre thereof.

An outer frame IB encompasses this cage I comprising a pair of outwardly facing wear plate channels II for engagement with the mine shaft guide rails connected at top and bottom by cross beams I2 and I3 respectively, the former of which has an enlarged central vapperture I4. These guide rail channels II lie in the troughs provided between the laterally spaced pairs of angles 5 on the outside of the cages side walls 2 and having greater height than the cage, allows it to slide vertically therein.

In part .of the excess height of the outer or crosshead frame I0 and preferably almost immediately below its top beam I2 are a pair of transversely disposed horizontal angle bars I5 mounted on the insides of the channels II and projecting substantially beyond the sides thereof. A pair of toggle arms IE rest on these angle bars I5, being joined at their inner ends by an elongated hinge pin Il to which the hoisting cables bifurcated tongue I8 connects, said tongue reaching upwards through the top cross beam aperture I4. The toggle arms I6 teeter midway of their ends on cross pins I9 carried between 0pposite side links 2i! pivotally connected at their lower ends to the spaced angles 6 on the cage ceiling 3. The toggle hinge pin I1 is long enough to project outwards through the opposite slotted draw bars 8 on the top of the cage I thereby limiting the upward hinging permitted the toggle and the accompanying lifting of the cage I relative to the outer frame I9. As the bowed leaf spring 1, in the channel pocket formed by the angles 6, engages the underside of the horizontal angle bars I5, it will be obvious that the lifting of the toggle I6 by tension on the hoist cable tongue IS acts against the heavy spring 'I to compress and flatten the same. Conversely when the hoist cable tension is relaxedy the toggle breaks downwards under the force of the spring 'I and the cage I drops vertically relative to the outer frame IG.

A second pan' of transversely disposed horizontal angle bars 25 are mounted on the inside of the channels l I just above the lower cross beam I3 and through elongated slots Ita and 25a in these pairs of companion bars I5 and 25 respectively, horizontal rods 2 extend one on each side of said channels. On opposite ends of each of these'four rods 25, that extend almost to the limit of the channels, rail-gripping safety dogs 2'! are carried, the side walls of the said channels II being cut away as at 28 opposite said dogs to enable the same to hinge into engagement with the mine shaft guide timbers when required. Rigid on the shaft with each dog 21 is an integral rearwardly Vpin `39. lapplied on the side walls above the normal position of the outer ends of the hooks.

3 extending arm 29 that connects by a link 30 with the adjacent side wall 2 of the cage I. It will thus be apparent that when, through slacking of the hoist cable for any reason, the cage l under the action of the toggle-released spring 'I drops relative to the outer frame I0, the safety dogs 21 swing into gripping engagement with the mine shaft guide rails, quickly and safely decelerating and arresting the accidental descent of the cage. Particular attention is directed to the shape of the dogs 21 that each has a shoe Furthermore, coil springs 26a are stretched between the dog-carrying shafts 25, drawing them together in horizontal pairs to the limit allowed by the shaft passing slots Ia and 2 5a respectively. The purpose of these springs and the shaft accommodating slots being 4when the dogs are operated on the relative vertical movement of the cage andframe, the said dogs rst pivot into Vengagement with the guides and on the further drop of the cage the shafts are spread against the tension of vthe springs as the dogs swing to the limit of their engagement yet are prevented from completely rotating or cutting the guide by the depending shoes. Should the guides be worn, the springs draw in on the dog shafts to compensate therefor.

To suspend and chair the cage at station levels without operating the safety dogs an interlocking lparts being mounted on a pin 36 extending in from the outer frame channel Il and being accommodated in `a vertically elongated slot 31 inzthe cagesV sidewall. Intermediate of its ends, each part of the hook 35 is horizontally slotted as at 38 and teeters there on a yprojecting cage wall Additionally a hook stop 40 may be When chairing the cage then at station levels the'chains are attached to the hooks 35 in the usual way and the total weight of the cage is 'carried by the hook parts 35 fulcruming on the wall pins 39 to the outer frame l0 through the centralypin 36, thereby 'preventing any downward movement of the cage l relative to the outer 'frame I0 that would operate to swing the braking `'dogs 21 into engagement with the mine shaft timbers or guide rails.

From the foregoing description taken in con- `nection with the accompanying drawings, it will 'be manifest that 1a mine cage'safety device is `provided that will full all the necessary relquirements of such a device, but as many accompanying specification and drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and'not in a limitative or restrictive sense.

VHaving thus described the invention, what I 'claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mine cage safety ldevice for usein a shaft having the usual pair of vertical timbers or'guide rails, v'a rectangular outer frame comi prising upper and lower horizontal cross beams, a pair of spaced vertical guide rail channels connected thereto, transversely disposed horizontal angle bars at both top and bottom of each of said channels projecting substantially beyond the sides thereof, braking dogs supported by said angle bars, a cage section of less height than said outer frame contained and'slidable vertically in said frame, a locking device between the cage and frame consisting of a ratchet lever pivotally connected at the top of the cage and rising through a slot in said frame and a leaf spring pressing the teeth of said ratchet into engagement with said frame at the edge of said slot, and connecting means between said cage and said braking dogs responsive to the relative vertical movement of said cage and frame.

`2. In a mine cage safety device for use in a shaft having the usual pair of vertical timbers or guide rails, a rectangular outer frame comprising upper and lower,` horizontal cross beams, a pair of spaced vertical guide rail channels connected thereto, transversely disposed horizontal angle bars at both top and bottom of each of said channels projecting substantially beyond the sides thereof and having elongated slots near opposite ends, rotatable cross rods supported by said angle bars and extending through the slots therein, retractile coil springs joining the respective upper and lower pairs of said rods normally holding said rods in the inner ends of said slots, braking dogs on said rods, said channels having their side walls cut away opposite each of said dogs to allow the same to swing against the mine shaft timber guide rails, a cage section of less height than said outer frame contained and slidable vertically in said frame vand connecting means between said cage and said cross rods to partially rotate the same and swing said dogs against or away from the mine 'shaft timbers on the relative vertical movement of said cage and frame.

3. In combination with the structure set forth in claim 2, a cable hoist draw bar passing freely through the upper cross beam of the frame, a pair of toggle arms pivoted at their inner ends to the lower end of said draw bar and having their outer ends resting on the top pair of channel carried angle bars and opposite pairs of links carried on the top of said cage between which said toggle arms teeter midway of their ends.

4. In combination with the structure set forth in claim 2, a cable hoist draw bar passing freely through the upper cross beam of the frame, a pair of toggle arms pivoted at their inner ends to the lower end of said draw bar and having their outer ends resting on the top pair of channel carried angle bars, opposite pairs of links carried on the top of said cage between which said toggle arms teeter midway of their ends and a bowed leaf spring compressed between the top of said cage and said frame with its free ends engaging the under sides of the toggle arm-supporting angle bars.

GEORGE E. GAGNON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 792,208 Gray June 13,'1905 1,031,470 Sanna July 2, 1912 1,249,453 Mueller Dec. 11, 1917 

